2014 Decluttering Thread

[JoeP]

This thread finally motivated me!

Our house is low on clutter that is visible to the naked eye, but we have a significant amount of personal memorabilia in the basement, closets, drawers, and above the garage. I think the best way to tackle this would be to take a day off from work and attack each area.

The problem is that I am very sentimental and keep old stuff that was part of my childhood (e.g., a small hanging drawer from woodworking, a science kit, old books) and it will be difficult for me to throw them out or donate them.

[ua_guy]

This thread finally motivated me!

Our house is low on clutter that is visible to the naked eye, but we have a significant amount of personal memorabilia in the basement, closets, drawers, and above the garage. I think the best way to tackle this would be to take a day off from work and attack each area.

The problem is that I am very sentimental and keep old stuff that was part of my childhood (e.g., a small hanging drawer from woodworking, a science kit, old books) and it will be difficult for me to throw them out or donate them.

I don't think it's wrong to keep things of true sentimental value, especially things that are just novel or fun to have. If you are renting storage space to store them, that's one thing and you should consider a cost/benefit scenario. But if they are inconspicuously taking up room in your home, that's not always a bad thing.

[snafu]

Joe, having a significant amount of memorabilia hiding in closets, drawers, basement etc. isn't giving it the value or respect it deserves. I know it can't all be displayed at once but items can be mounted on a 3D format, displayed in rotation. For items that are awkward, many of us take photos to enjoy reminiscing with no space issues. The extra benefit is freeing up nooks and crannies and having less to look after, remarkably de stressing.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I throw out as much as possible. I save some sentimental stuff, but I figure it's better to live in the here and now instead of the past, especially if the item is taking up room. The problem is that nearly every item I own has a certain amount of sentiment value.

Sometimes you need to let it go.

[lorraineb]

Finally cleaned out the medicine cabinet of all the old medicines that were long expired and made a list of what over-the-counter medicines need to be purchased. It was long overdue and looks a lot better. Some of the stiff was over 5 years expired

[snafu]

Good on you Lorraine, clearing the medicine cabinet is important on so many levels. You need to know what you have on hand, what is needed and where everything is before there is an emergency when supplies are needed. I watch for sales for products we use regularly and it helps to combine that with a coupon from the manufacturer's web site for OTC items. I suggest checking with a pharmacist as some meds are better kept out of the bathroom whose air is damp after showers.

Target Pharmacy sometimes gives out cute little fabric storage bags as promotion [free]. The 1st one we got was designated as 1st aid supplies for bruises, cuts, scrapes, spray band-aid, antibiotic cream, alcohol wipes and the like. That was so convenient I used a similar sized [former make-up promotion] zip bag for cold, flu fever kit. That was a big hit because DH and teenaged sons could access it when needed.

[breathemusic]

I got bariatric surgery a little over a month ago, so last weekend I went through my closet, hope chest, and dresser and got rid of about 3.5 trash bags full of clothes that are too big now, and pulled out a bunch of old clothes that used to not fit. The clothes that are in good enough shape will be donated. 1 bag had stuff that had rips or was just too worn to really donate, so that's trash. Will probably be donating a lot more clothes in the near future!

[doingitallwrong]

Some Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. units take ripped/stained/poor condition clothing, either to use as rags or to sell to cloth graders who utilize the scraps. You can't count those clothes as a charitable donation on your tax return (donations must be in good-or-better condition).

[snafu]

breathemusic, I hope you're healing well after surgery. Wonderful to pack up clothes you'll never need again in good condition for donation. We keep a sturdy plastic bag on the floor of clothes closets and one in the laundry rm for clothes that need to go. We have to change out closets and drawers seasonally...if this winter ever decides to leave so anything not worn during the season goes. You might like ridding yourself of anything old when something new that fits and flatters comes in. It's a very effective method whose unanticipated benefit is usually the elimination of impulse buying. You know before you walk through the door of the stores or click the order tab that you'll need to relinquish a similar item.

[cypher1]

On Sunday my roommate started a contest to see who could declutter the most of our stuff in the house. Granted he really only has 2 rooms to go over besides the kitchen and his bathroom, we each started focusing on 1 room at time. I already cleared out stuff from my bedroom, bath, office. Next is the hobbithole (storage crawlspace underneath stairs), garage, and then shed.

[snafu]

Cybert, terrific to do the de-clutter, clear-out task early before the stress and pressure of end of semester papers and exams. It's so much easier to function without clutter, the items you no longer need, no longer serve you and contribute to mess. Have you tried 'new item in...two items out' system?

[cypher1]

Have you tried 'new item in...two items out' system?

I can't say that I have, but now I'm curious. I need to figure out where I should donate some of my clothes. Was going to try to sell most of them to Platos Closet as they're in good condition. Got a bunch of laptops/monitors/printer I need to recycle at Best Buy also, and destroy a stack of hard drives. Debating if I should dump my old 80's craftsman snow blower on CL (dunno if it works) for $50, or scrap it.

[disneysteve]

Ok folks. Summer is winding down and it's time to get back to this. Our daughter leaves for college tomorrow and I've decided that one of my goals will be to seriously declutter our now empty nest. I've already started the process this week. My desk and our computer desk were my first focus and they are already looking much better.

I was actually inspired by an article in this month's AARP magazine. I'll see if I can find it online and post a link. It didn't really say anything new or innovative but just clicked for me, probably because decluttering was already on my mind.

This week, I've thrown out a number of things that have literally been on my desk for years. For example, I had two bottles of envelope sealer stuff. I got them to seal the invitations for DD's Bat Mitzvah. That was 6 years ago. They were still perfectly good and functional, but I DON'T NEED THEM! That's the kind of crap that accumulates for no good reason.

I've gotten a bunch of papers into the recycling bag. And I've even listed 3 items on ebay, with many more to come.

So join the conversation and let's share our successes and challenges and work to motivate each other. I'm serious this time. I've gotten on the decluttering track many times before, made progress, and then fallen back into old habits, but this time I want it to stick.

[disneysteve]

Listed a 4th item on ebay.

[ladonnarosso]

I just started going through my closet and getting rid of things that I've been hoping will fit me again but probably never will. I'm even finding quite a few name brands items that I am planning to take to a consignment shop. It's such a good feeling to go through everything!